Potassium fulminate

Singh [1] has examined infra-red spectra of mercuric, silver and lead fulminates, and Beck [2] those of sodium and potassium fulminates. The maxima 2147 and 1225 cm-1 were found to be characteristic of asymmetric and symmetric vibrations of the O—N—C group, respectively. The maximum 1181 cm-1 was assigned to the bending frequency of the same group [1]. Beck also found that the transient formation of an isomeric ion eN=C—O can occur on thermal decomposition of fulminates. 

Fulminic acid. HONC, and the fulminates are violently explosive. Utilizing this properly, mercuric fulminate. Hg(ONC) - HiO. is used as a detonator for other explosives. Mercury fulminate is made by the reaction of ethyl alcohol and mercuric nitrate in excess of nitric acid, from which insoluble mere-uric fulminate separates. Silvei fulminate. Agl ONC). is more explosive than mercuric fulminate, and is used in the manufacture of firecrackers Free fulminic acid may be obtained by reaction of potassium fulminate and excess of ether. It volatilizes with the ether upon distilling, and changes rapidly to meiufulminic acid. Related to fulminic acid is fulminuric acid, (HONCn. or NOy-CH(CN)-CONH-. 

The only reported example of an osmium fulminato complex is (Ph4As)2[0s02(CN0)4], made by reaction of Os04 and potassium fulminate in a sealed tube followed by precipitation with tetraphe-nylarsonium chloride. The IR spectrum has v(C=N) at 2297 and 2181 cm-1 and vas (Os02) at 824 cm-1.44... 

Potassium Fulminate, KONO, mw 81.11, N 7.27% crysts (from ale) very hygroscopic sp gr 1.80 mp — expl expl also by the action of flame. Can be prepd by shaking K amalgam with MF either in methanol or abs ethanol. Expln temp in 5 secs 225°... 

Isomerism Existence of more than one distinct substance with the same composition, for example, ammonium cyanate, NH4NCO, and urea, (H2N)2CO, both of which are CH4N2O in stoichiometry, or potassium fulminate, K(CNO), and potassium cyanate, K(NCO). The distinct substances are called isomers. 

Alkaline fulminates—sodium and potassium—are soluble in methanol, not soluble in acetone and ethanol, and insoluble in ether and benzene [39, 107]. Sodium fulminate explosively decomposes by action of sulfuric acid in the same way as MF and SF do [15]. The spontaneous explosion is reported even during drying above sulfuric acid [108]. The density of alkali fulminates is similar to alkali azides sodium fulminate 1.92 g cm and potassium fulminate 1.80 g cm [39]. Sodium fulminate forms an anhydride or monohydrate depending on preparation procedure. Alkaline fulminates can be stored for a long time in the form of methanol solutions in the dark. These fulminates are hygroscopic they are not stable in contact with moisture and quickly decompose when wet (white color changes to yellow and brown with loss of explosive properties) [15, 107]. Toxicity of sodium fulminate is about the same as that of sodium cyanide [2]. 

Copper fulminate Potassium-3,5-dinitro-2(l -tetrazenyl) phenolate... 

Dimethylthallium fulminate Potassium trinitromethanide ( Nitroform salt)... 

Ammonium nitrate Oinitrophenol Oinitrotoluol Fulminate of mercury Hexanitrodiphenylamine Lead styphnate Picric acid and picrates Potassium nitrate Sen sol... 

With polyhaloalkanes, potassium forms mixtures that detonate on impact. The potassium/carbon tetrachloride mixture is hundred and fifty to two hundred times more sensitive than mercury fulminate. A simple door slam can cause its detonation. 

Peroxides, organic Phosphorus (white) Potassium chlorate Potassium perchlorate Potassium permanganate Silver Acids (organic or mineral), avoid friction, store cold Air, oxygen Acids (see also chlorates) Acids (see also perchloric acid) Glycerol, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulphuric acid Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, fulminic acid (produced in ethanol — nitric acid mixtures), ammonium compounds... 

When used in detonators, mercury fulminate is frequently mixed with 10 or 20% of potassium chlorate. Such mixtures have a better oxygen balance and therefore give improved and more reliable initiation of other explosives. 

A precipitate, explosive when touched after drying, which appeared from a neutralised solution stood overnight with a large excess of potassium cyanate, was described as a fulminate. This is unlikely, though fulminating gold is probable, cyanate hydrolysing to release ammonia (see above). Existence of explosive cyanate complexes is also conceivable. 

Attempts to follow a published procedure for the preparation of 1,3 -dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate salts [1], involving reductive coupling of carbon disulfide with alkali metals, have led to violent explosions with potassium metal, but not with sodium [2], However, mixtures of carbon disulfide with potassium-sodium alloy, potassium, sodium, or lithium are capable of detonation by shock, though not by heating. The explosive power decreases in the order given above, and the first mixture is more shock-sensitive than mercury fulminate [3],... 

Evaporation by heating a filtrate from precipitation of potassium cobaltinitrite caused it to turn purple and explode violently [1]. This was attributed to interaction of nitrite, nitrate, acetic acid and residual cobalt with formation of fulminic or methylnitrolic acids or their cobalt salts, all of which are explosive [2], Mixtures containing nitrates, nitrites and organic materials are potentially dangerous, especially in presence of acidic materials and heavy metals. A later publication confirms the suggestion of formation of nitro- or nitrito-cobaltate(III) [3],... 

An unstable powerful oxidant, it explodes between 40 and 70°C, or on friction or impact, sensitivity being as great as that of mercury fulminate [1], Detonation occurs at 95°C, and under vacuum explosive decomposition occurs above 10°C [2], See Potassium permanganate Sulfuric acid... 

Fulminating silver is the most violently explosive compound among the nitrogen derivatives of the noble metals. Formed from action of ammonia on silver oxide, or on addition of potassium hydroxide to an ammoniacal solution of a silver salt, it is a black powder which explodes violently in the liquid in which it is formed if the slightest stirring is used. It probably contains amminesilver hydroxides, [Ag(NH3),]OH. 

The metal fulminates are all powerfully explosive. Of several salts examined, those of cadmium, copper and silver were more powerful detonators than mercury fulminate, while thallium fulminate was much more sensitive to heating and impact. Formally related salts are also explosive [1]. Sodium, potassium, rubidium and caesium fulminates are all easily detonated by feeble friction or heat. They all form double salts with mercury(II) fulminate which also explode readily, that of the rubidium salt at 45 °C [2],... 

The influence of the oxime geometry on the base-promoted rearrangement is pointed out for compounds 29 (85T5181). Thus, when treated with aqueous potassium hydroxide at room temperature, Z isomers 29Z (R = H, -oxyiminomethyl), arising as cycloadducts of the dimer or trimer of fulminic acid and norbornene, rearrange into 30. On the contrary, the E isomer 29E remains unchanged under similar conditions of aqueous bases (Scheme 6). 

The highly substituted derivative 186, in the form of the potassium salt, has been recommended for use in detonators in place of the more dangerous mercury fulminate. l,2,3-Benzotriazine-4-thione (39, R — H) has been used in photographic transfer emulsions as an inhibitor and toning agent, and heavy metal salts of the oxygen analog 10, R = H are employed as photodevelopable emulsions. The latter compound is also claimed to be useful as a stabilizer in olefin polymers and as an antioxidant in certain other polymers. Dimeric derivatives of 10 have... 

ANTIMONY SULFIDE 30% t 2% MERCURY FULMINATE 35% t 2% POTASSIUM CHLORATE 35% WEIGHT OF CHARGE 0.025 GRAM... 

Lead Azide, Mercuric Fulminate with or without Potassium Chlorate, Lead Styphnate, Cyanuric Triazide, Tetracene and Diazodinitrophenol The following substances are also good initiating agents but have not found much use ... 

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